Nick Sanchez wins late night Xfinity Series finish at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta

It looked like Aric Almirola was going to walk into a win tonight. The weather problem in qualifying was a letdown. Then there was a delay in Cup Series qualifying. Just when NASCAR fans thought it was over, the Xfinity Series race was put on hold for over an hour due to lightning after only 36 laps.

You also have to applaud Jesse Love for the race he drove. Despite damage at the end of Stage 1, Love drove back up into the front of the field. He looked like he might get himself another win this season. But the inside line just wasn’t the same as the outside.

Nick Sanchez wasn’t the most dominant driver tonight. He led just 18 laps total. And despite spinning earlier in the race, he bounced back to take the win. A late-night finish in the Xfinity Series, and a big-time win for Sanchez.

Nick Sanchez punches playoff ticket at Atlanta

In the Truck Series, Nick Sanchez got his first win at Daytona. This time in the Xfinity Series, he gets it done at Atlanta. These drafting tracks have been kind to Sanchez in his young NASCAR career. Tonight, he put himself in the right place at the right time.

Another thing that makes this win impressive is the unpredictability. Today’s issues with lightning and delays and things threatened to end this race early. If there had been another delay after the halfway point, Lap 82, this race likely would have ended at that point.

Everyone was trying to be the leader in case that happened. So, these drivers were giving their all to end this race. While the race went the full 163 laps, the threat of more lightning loomed large. The CW broadcast even captured distant strikes in the background of the track.

A really solid win for Nick Sanchez. He got the lead there at the end and just didn’t give it up. He wasn’t going to let this one slip through his fingers. Not tonight.